Collapsible pump jack
The collapsible pump jack includes a pole formed from a plurality of pipe segments having swaged ends that telescope into one another. An M-shaped base supports the pole in an upright position. A ratcheting chain hoist has a hook for attaching the hoist atop the pole. The chain has another hook for attachment to the vehicle being lifted out of a rut in the snow or other terrain. The base is foldable from an M-shape pole mounting position to a rectangular tube storage position to surround the pole segments for storage and transport. The collapsible pump jack provides a lightweight, compact, portable accessory for lifting an end of a snowmobile, ATV, or other off-road vehicle to extricate the vehicle when it is stuck in snow or rugged terrain.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/929,378, filed Jun. 25, 2007.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to jacks, and more particularly to a collapsible pump jack for lifting snowmobiles, ATVs and the like that are stuck in snow, mud, or other terrain.
2. Description of the Related Art
A common problem with snowmobiles is that they often become entrenched in dry, lightly packed snow when the rear end of the snowmobile sinks downwardly, forming a rut in the snow pack. When this occurs, the more one tries to drive the vehicle out of the rut, the deeper it sinks into the rut. Trying to free the vehicle by pushing or picking the snowmobile up out of a rut is not easy because typical snowmobiles weigh approximately five hundred pounds or more. Further, under extreme weather conditions and in remote locations, one's life may depend on the ability to lift a snowmobile from a rut.
Similar problems may occur with an All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) or a four-wheel drive vehicle when operated off-road, either when used in the snow, or over terrain that simply lacks sufficient traction. Thus, a collapsible pump jack solving the aforementioned problems is desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe collapsible pump jack includes a pole formed from a plurality of longitudinally nesting pipe segments, a base for supporting the pole in an upright position, and a ratchet lever chain hoist having one hook for attachment to the top segment of the pole and another hook for attachment to a vehicle (such as a snowmobile, ATV, or other off-road vehicle) for lifting an end of the vehicle out of a rut. The bottom segment of the pole is provided with a V-shape for cooperating with a V-shaped portion of the base. A bolt is provided in the center of the V-shaped portion of the base to keep the pole from sliding off the base. The base is foldable from an M-shape pole mounting position to a rectangular tube storage position to surround the separated pole segments for storage.
These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.
Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTThe present invention is a collapsible pump jack 100 that comprises a pole 101 formed from a plurality of longitudinally nesting pipe segments 103, 105, 107, and 109. Each pipe segment 105, 107, 109 except top segment 103 has a swaged or reduced diameter end portion smaller than the inner diameter of the opposite end of each segment, so that the swaged end telescopes into the bottom of the next higher segment.
A base 112 is provided for supporting the pole 101 in an upright position. The lower segment 109 of the pole 101 has a V-shape for cooperating the base 112, and the base 112 is provided with a bolt 114 that fits into the V-shape of segment 109 to keep the pole 101 from sliding off the base 112.
Referring to
As shown in
It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.
Claims
1. A collapsible pump jack kit, comprising:
- a pole formed from a plurality of segments having telescoping joints, the plurality of segments including a bottom segment having a substantially V-shaped end;
- an M-shaped base defining a V-shaped groove, the pole being mounted on the base in an upright position with the substantially V-shaped end seated in the V-shaped groove; and
- a chain hoist having a shell and a hook extending from the shell, the shell hook removably mounting the chain hoist atop the pole, the chain hoist having a sheave mounted in the shell and a chain mounted on the sheave, the chain having a load hook at one end thereof adapted for attachment to a vehicle to be lifted.
2. The collapsible pump jack kit as recited in claim 1, wherein said M-shaped base comprises a pair of elongated L-shaped members and a hinge pivotally joining the pair of L-shaped members, the base being foldable from the M-shape into a rectangular tube for storage and transport of said plurality of pole segments.
3. The collapsible pump jack kit as recited in claim 1, wherein each said pole segment comprises a hollow tube.
4. The collapsible pump jack kit as recited in claim 3, wherein said plurality of pole segments includes a top segment, the shell hook releasably engaging the top segment.
5. The collapsible pump jack kit as recited in claim 1, wherein said plurality of pole segments have swaged ends.
6. The collapsible pump jack kit as recited in claim 1, further comprising a storage bag for removably receiving said pole, said M-shaped base and said chain hoist when said collapsible pump jack kit is in a disassembled state.
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Type: Grant
Filed: Jun 25, 2008
Date of Patent: Jan 19, 2010
Patent Publication Number: 20080315166
Inventor: Peter E Gagnon (Wasilla, AK)
Primary Examiner: Emmanuel M Marcelo
Attorney: Richard C. Litman
Application Number: 12/213,863
International Classification: B25B 25/00 (20060101);
